Mavs' Peterson started slow but has found his groove as of late

Comment

VVdailypress.com

Posted Jun. 17, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 17, 2014 at 11:47 PM

Posted Jun. 17, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 17, 2014 at 11:47 PM

» Social News

ADELANTO — Coming out of high school, baseball players have a number of choices: If they are picked in the Major League Baseball draft, sign and start a professional career or go to college and improve your draft stock.

For High Desert Mavericks third baseman D.J. Peterson, his decision was to go to college.

Back in 2010, the Seattle Mariners selected him in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft. Peterson, disappointed with where he fell in the draft, decided to attend the University of New Mexico. The Seattle Mariners picked Peterson again in the draft again three years later, only this time his name was the 12th overall called in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft.

The decision to go to school and improve his overall skills paid off.

“That’s why I went to college — to prove everyone wrong, show them what I can improve on and that’s what I did,” Peterson said. “It didn’t work out the first time around so I went to college. I had a good time. I improved my body and my foot work.”

Peterson said he had no idea where he’d go or what team would select him. He wanted it to be a surprise.

“I told my agent to make it a surprise if he can so that’s what he kind of did,” Peterson said. “I knew I was going anywhere in the range from 3 to 13. I was happy to go (to Seattle) and I told my agent before the draft that this is one team that I would like to go to.”

After playing last year for the Everett AquaSox (short season Class A) and the Clinton LumberKings (Class Low A), Peterson was assigned to High Desert, Seattle’s Class High A affiliate at the beginning of the season.

The Mariners’ No. 2 prospect in the organization started out slow but has become ingrained as the team’s No. 3 hitter whether he’s playing his normal third base position or in the designated hitter role. He’s hitting .315 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs in 60 games played. Peterson also has 16 doubles and a .575 slugging percentage in the California League.

“I think he figured out that he had to make adjustments,” High Desert manager Eddie Menchaca said. “I think he had some pressure at the beginning of the year — everything that goes with being a first-rounder — and himself knowing he was trying to live up to those expectations right away. Once he kind of knew it was just a game and that he could do this, he’s actually done a real good job for us.”

At New Mexico he set or tied numerous school records. Peterson is tied for first in doubles (78), third in total bases (492), tied for fourth in RBIs (198), fourth in homers (41) and slugging percentage (.691).

Peterson was named the Mountain West Conference co-player of the year and was a first-team All-American after finishing with a .408 average, 18 homers and 72 RBIs in 2013. When he was drafted in the first round, he became the highest pick in school history.

“The first month there was a little bit of adjustment,” Peterson said. “They have good arms here and they have a lot of good prospects. I think after the first month I kind of settled in, relaxed and did what I knew I could do.”

According to Baseball America, Peterson signed a contract worth $2.759 million with the Mariners. One of the first things he did was buy his mom a car and paid off his father’s truck. Peterson also bought himself a Range Rover.

“My parents have been able to come out, it’s close to home,” Peterson said. “They got to see me quite a bit in New Mexico — five hours, the same drive from (Adelanto). Arizona is right in the middle.

“Family is everything for me and they’ve always been my No. 1 support system. I’ve given them way less than they’ve given me. Hopefully I can pay the debt but I’m highly in debt to them.”

Receiving that type of money coming out of college could be overwhelming, but Peterson said he’s not being foolish because becoming a major league player isn’t guaranteed.

“It’s something that you definitely earn,” Peterson said. “It takes a lot for someone to pick you and give you that type of money so they put a big investment in you. I have a guy that’s looking out for me financially so my money is taken care of and should be fine.”

While Peterson is focused on making the majors, it shouldn’t be too long before he’s promoted to the Class AA Jackson Generals in Tennessee, he does find time away from the ballpark to enjoy a couple unique hobbies.

For one thing, Peterson said he’s a standout ping-pong player. He credits his father Douglas Peterson for excelling at the sport.

“Baseball is my second sport behind ping-pong,” Peterson said. “It’s my No. 1 sport, yes. My dad and I use to play growing up and that’s just my best sport. There’s no money it and I’m not quite at the Olympic level.

“It was something to do other than baseball. That’s kind of my dad and I’s competition. He knows he can’t play me in basketball anymore and he definitely can’t outhit me so ping-pong is where we get our anger out on each other. We just go take it to the paddle.”

Peterson also said that he’s quite a good bowler. He took classes while at New Mexico and said his game is quite “on point.” In the offseason, he and his brother Dustin Peterson, a second-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2013, battle it out in the bowling alley.

Time spent with his father and brother, while fun, doesn’t deter Peterson from his prime objective. He definitely has designs on making the majors in a short time frame. Peterson said he hasn’t gone Down the Hill to do any sight-seeing or check out the beaches. Baseball has been his priority since arriving in High Desert.

“Everyone is here for the same reason,” Peterson said. “There’s no favorites here. Everyone wants to get to the big leagues, that’s everyone’s plan and there’s no knock on me or knocking anyone else — it’s just show up, play ball and try to move up, get promoted.

“It would be a dream come true (to be in the majors) like getting drafted. That’s what everyone in this room is working for — hopefully I get there sooner than later.”

Menchaca said there’s no rush and Peterson is doing all the right things to eventually play in the majors.

“He’s still a work in progress but overall I think he’s turned the page and there’s still work to be done,” Menchaca said. “I know he wants to be (in the majors) bad but I think he needs to control what he can, do what he can do here in this league and whenever we feel he’s ready to move on, then he’ll move on.

“We’re not expecting him to be in the big leagues tomorrow but we’re for sure seeing him there in the future.”

Mark A. Peinado can be reached at mpeinado@vvdailypress.com or 760-951-6274.